Pyrethrin is a potent biopesticide, a natural mixture of six compounds (pyrethrin I and II, cinerin I and II, and jasmolin I and II), biosynthesized in plants of Dalmatian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium/Trevir./Sch. Bip.), a species endemic to the eastern Adriatic coast, but grown worldwide. Not many known natural insecticides encompass such superior qualities as pyrethrin—very high efficacy against a broad spectrum of pests in combination with minor adverse effects on human health and the environment. In previous decades, pyrethrin was largely replaced by its synthetic derivatives, pyrethroids. However, due to their harmful effects on various species and ecosystems, the use of pyrethrin should again take the lead. This review summarizes one century (1920–2020) of research on the properties and use of pyrethrum as a source of pyrethrins. The primary focus is on presenting its current advantages and disadvantages, toxicity on target and non-target species, biosynthesis, factors that influence the pyrethrins content in pyrethrum, comparison of different methods of their extraction and determination; as well as its production potential and development of new products. The final goal is to present possible approaches to improve and enhance the use of this highly effective but still underused phytochemical insecticide with unique properties.

除虫菊酯是一种有效的生物农药，是六种化合物（菊酯I和II，cinerin I和II，茉莉素I和II）的天然混合物，是在达尔马提斯除虫菊（艾菊醋（tanacetum cinerariifolium）/Trevir./Sch。（Bip。），是亚得里亚海东部沿海的特有物种，但在世界范围内都有生长。很少有已知的天然杀虫剂具有除虫菊酯等优异的品质-对多种害虫具有非常高的功效，同时对人体健康和环境的危害也较小。在过去的几十年中，除虫菊酯在很大程度上被其合成衍生物拟除虫菊酯所取代。但是，由于除虫菊酯对各种物种和生态系统具有有害影响，因此应再次带头使用除虫菊酯。这篇综述总结了一个世纪（1920-2020年）关于除虫菊作为除虫菊酯来源的性质和用途的研究。主要重点是展示其当前的优缺点，对目标和非目标物种的毒性，生物合成，影响除虫菊中除虫菊酯含量的因素，比较不同的提取和测定方法；以及其生产潜力和新产品开发。最终目标是提出可能的方法，以改善和增强这种高效但仍未充分利用的具有独特特性的植物化学杀虫剂的使用。